Editor’s Note: I wrote most of this on the flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang but am just now getting a chance to post about a day later from a cool, little coffee shop in Luang Prabang. The weather here is much cooler… long sleeves and jeans at night. We had to cut last night short since I got some serious stomach pains immediately following dinner. Feel better this morning but we’ll probably take it easy today before heading to Cambodia tomorrow.
After almost 11 full days in Thailand, Jeff and I find ourselves on a Loas Airline flight taking us from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Northen Laos. I’m certainly a little sad to be leaving Thailand. All of the great things that I read and heard are so completely true. The people are quite kind, the food is wonderful and the landscapes are breathtaking whether it be in the mountains or on the beach. Each city we visited seemed to offer something a little different.
Bangkok was the big, bustling city (11 million strong) that reminded me a bit of New York but with a little more warmth. The palaces and wats added a touch of history and maybe even mystery that I’ve not quite seen in a city of its size. I was a little disappointed with the nightlife but that may be on Jeff and me since we missed Cao San Road which is supposedly the place to be. We have about 12 hours in Bangkok before coming home on the 16th so hopefully that will give us enough time for me to form a better opinion.
Aside from the 20,000 person New Year’s Eve party on the beach that Jeff and I attended, most of Koh Pangan resembles a sleepy beach town like you might find along the coast of Delaware. Nothing incredibly flashy or fancy. Many roads are still not paved and in fact, without the use of a 4×4 pickup truck, the only access point to the resort where we stayed is via boat. While we certainly had a few difficulties getting around and there wasn’t a ton to see or do beyond lay on the beach and watch the waves (a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time for many), I’d give Koh Pangan strong consideration as a destination for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.
Koh Samui felt almost like the big brother to Koh Pangan. Much larger and much more developed, it’s more tourist friendly giving Jeff and I the widest range of activities to enjoy. The scooters that we rented took us around nearly 3/4 of the island allowing us to immerse ourselves in the vibrant nightlife by the beach or escape to the hills and waterfalls of the interior of the island when we needed to escape tourist central.
Chiang Mai, nestled in the mountains of Northern Thailand, offered a seemingly more cultural experience than the other cities. We hired a guide named Peter for our two full days in the city. Cost was 3000THB (about $88 US) and that included the elephant, riverboat and ox-cart rides we experienced on day two. A few stops at a celadon factor and rug store to “kill some time” along with a poor massage parlor recommendation led us to believe Peter was 60% on the level and 40% shyster. Nevertheless, he was super nice, spoke excellent English and was able to provide some cultural and historical significance to the sites that we saw. That wasn’t a luxury we had at our previous stops so was well worth the money. Each night ended at the Riverside Bar where Jeff and I became fast fans of an Asian cover band called “The Bugs”. Aside from developing quite the crush on their lead singer, I was amazed by their ability to cover American music as well as any band I’ve seen in the US. I got a full video of U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” that I’ll post when I get home.
After looking through our travel books, it appears as though Luang Prabang will bring a little more leisurely pace to our trip. While in Thailand, we certainly sacrificed some rest and relaxation in order to see as much as possible. Only about a day and a half here before moving on to Camodia and the temple complex of Ankor Wat.
btw, have I mentioned Jeff is blogging too? I shoot for summaries since I have so little time online. However Jeff provides the (often humorous) details. http://travel.jeffnyveen.com/
